News and Events
New Public Relations Student Society of America chapter offers valuable, diverse opportunities.
Top row (L-R): Kentralle Goodwin, Adam Elrod, Rachel Stubbs (Chapter Communication Liaison), Justin Monsewicz (Chapter President), Taylor Cyr, Caitlin Madden, Dr. Camilla Gant (Chair, Dept of Mass Comm)
Bottom Row (L-R): Dr. Amber Smallwood (Chapter Faculty Advisor, Asst. Prof. of Mass Comm), Manuela Villa (Chapter Secretary)
(Courtesy of Donovan Gasque, PRSSA Chapter Vice President, Not Pictured)
By Adrienne Leon
West Georgia students can now network with top industry professionals, and enhance valuable skills to establish their own successful careers through the Department of Mass Communications’ newly-launched Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.
The Department of Mass Communications spearheaded the initiative that brought PRSSA on campus, which was a rigorous process that ended in August once the university received its charter from Public Relations Society of America. The milestone makes West Georgia PRSSA one of the newest additions in a family of more than 300 chapters in the nation, and the ninth student chapter in the state, said Faculty Adviser Dr. Amber Smallwood.
Besides connecting with industry professionals from some of the world’s most influential corporations, organizations and agencies, PRSSA members are offered access to a wide-ranging selection of academic enrichment resources, including internship listings, competitions, scholarships, and news and social media to stay abreast of industry trends, as well as increase job preparation and employee marketability, she said.
“Students at West Georgia are going to have many new opportunities open up to them through the PRSSA chapter,” Smallwood shared, noting that membership is available to any West Georgia student interested in public relations, regardless of major and classification. “We have already begun planning the chapter’s activities for the year, including professional-led workshops, service opportunities and conferences.”
In stressing the importance of learning about public relations outside of the classroom, West Georgia mass communications junior Justin Monsewicz, who is also chapter president, added: “The need for this chapter, in my opinion, was huge. There was nothing for PR students to really get involved with.”
But with collaborative input from a creative student team, as well as sound counsel from a forward-thinking advisor, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide executive and West Georgia graduate Jacob Hawkins, organizers believe the landmark chapter is poised to achieve great things. Among those on the horizon is the formation of a student-run public relations firm, which would handle campus and community clients as part of chapter members’ ‘real world’ training.
The West Georgia PRSSA membership fee is $75. For more information on membership, activities and events, send inquiries to uwgprssa@gmail.com.
